Make no mistake: by criminalizing James Rosen of Fox News for asking government employees to give him information, the Obama administration is suppressing the ability of the press to do its job. It is so egregious that even the New York Times, normally sycophants for Obama, is alarmed. The editorial board today writes:

With the decision to label a Fox News television reporter a possible "co-conspirator" in a criminal investigation of a news leak, the Obama administration has moved beyond protecting government secrets to threatening fundamental freedoms of the press to gather news.

And the Times, a member/owner of Associated Press, detects a pattern:

The Rosen case follows other signs that the administration has gone overboard in its zeal to find and muzzle insiders. The Associated Press revealed last week that the government had secretly seized two months' worth of records for telephones used by the agency's staff, partly to determine the source of a leak about a report involving a foiled terrorist plot in Yemen. At least two other major leak investigations are continuing. Six current and former administration officials have been indicted under the old Espionage Act for leaking classified information to the press and public. In 2010, a federal judge in Maryland sentenced a leaker to 20 months in jail while admitting that he was "in the dark as to the kind of documents" involved in the leak or what impact they had on national security...

Barry has lost nothing. The NYT is still squarely in his camp and will be for likely forever. They are expected to show and voice their disapproval of the heavy-handed tactics of the Marxist in Chief. But they are still 100% behind him.

the Obama administration is suppressing the ability of the press to do its job

Um - the press is suppressing itself. As far as losing the NYT editorial board, well - for a little while. As soon as the NYT editorial board faces the prospect of a Republican President who is just to the right of Karl Marx, they'll swing back again. I have faith.

Let us not succumb to cynicism. It is entirely possible that the editorial board of the NY Times has had a collective epiphany and is now coming down firmly on the side of individual freedom and respect for the Constitution.

It is equally likely that purple monkeys will fly from my rectal cavity and dance the maranga on the nonexistent surface of Hillary Clinton's conscience. The Times wants something. There isn't anything more to it than that.

I think the effect on Baraq is inconsequential because he’s a lame duck already.
My hope is we can combine Scandalgate and Obamacare reaching “full bloom” in 2014 and elect a legislature that can stalemate him to some degree.

I think your take is correct. A quote from Shakespeare's "Macbeth" is appropriate.

If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly...

The Times editorial board understands that Obama needs to go before he takes down Hillary, the Democratic Party and the IRS with him. They also know that Obama has crossed a line with his treatment of individual reporters. It's not that the Times wants to defend the First Amendment, it's that the Times fears that those methods could be used against them by this or a future administration.

It's a case of rats and a sinking ship. They're getting ready to pull the rug out from under this president to preserve what they've worked for since 1933.

I think you have got it. The NYT has been mildly critical at O for not being aggressive enough and their columnists have endorsed the Hush Rush movement. So an open political discussion isn’t a Times priority.

A few tepid words of admonition here or there in the press against the Obammunists are pretty meaningless.

The press hammered Nixon day and night incessantly for months. That’s what it would take to generate any sort of meaningful public negativity against Hussein, and we all know that no matter what Obama does, that level of attack by the press isn’t going to happen. Obama is just doing what good commies always do, and the commie press will basically just lap up whatever their commie wants to do.

38
posted on 05/22/2013 6:47:11 PM PDT
by catnipman
(Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)

With the decision to label a Fox News television reporter a possible "co-conspirator" in a criminal investigation of a news leak, the Obama administration has moved beyond protecting government secrets to threatening fundamental freedoms of the press to gather news.

One op-ed does not journalism make.

39
posted on 05/22/2013 8:12:32 PM PDT
by SunkenCiv
(Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)

Did you see Shulman testify yesterday? When asked why he visited the White House 118 times he answered with a contemptuous comment about an ‘Easter Egg’ hunt... Shulman was an elitist jerk - all attitude - VERY LIMITED competence.

Well, that's the New York Times boys too - all superior attitude - limited skills ( beyond wordsmithing which they really do better than anyone).

Does anyone here think if the IRS had been targeting Gay groups that the New York Times would be deaf to their concerns? For years?

Gimme a break - the New York Times might as well be working for the DNC - and getting paid by them... Who knows, maybe the New York Times does get 'paid' by the DNC with 'insider leaks'...

When the coin of the realm is information bribes aren't in cash... What else could explain their bias? Why would they be willing to throw away their credibility as an objective news operation if they weren't getting anything in return?

Shulman and IRS goons pull confidential dirt on Republicans and 'pass it along' to their team at the New York Times? What's that worth? Ever notice how the MSM never has the inside dirt on Democrats until they're tried, convicted and in prison? Wonder why?

It's impossible to believer the New York Times has any ‘principle’ beyond “Are we cool or what”

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